hydro
Prayin' to Cheeses
Well I made the change today from a SH-1 bridge to a SH-5 Duncan Custom in my '74 SG Standard. Made a huge difference. I had done a couple of blind tests against my other stock '74 SG which still has the original tarback bridge pickup in it, vs. the SH-1. The SH-1 is a very nice pickup but it just wasn't breaking up like the tarback did, and didn't have quite enough shimmer when running clean. I put the SH-5 in today instead and it is much closer to the sound I was looking for. It is higher output than the bridge tarback, at least from what I can tell, and seems to have more bottom end and a slightly more "modern" sound - but wow, it sounds freaking amazing. Super responsive, breaks up nice, fantastic tone.
I am not sure if having a ceramic magnet makes part of the tonal difference and is thus closer to the original tarback pickups, which were also ceramic.
Anyway, just wanted to share - in case anyone was in the same boat I was, trying to replace a missing Gibson tarback with something that sounds similar. It doesn't sound exactly the same, but it is closer to the feel and character that I wanted than the SH-1. The SH-1 bridge is going in my Epi doubleneck on the bridge 12 string course instead. I think that's going to sound awesome.
I am not sure if having a ceramic magnet makes part of the tonal difference and is thus closer to the original tarback pickups, which were also ceramic.
Anyway, just wanted to share - in case anyone was in the same boat I was, trying to replace a missing Gibson tarback with something that sounds similar. It doesn't sound exactly the same, but it is closer to the feel and character that I wanted than the SH-1. The SH-1 bridge is going in my Epi doubleneck on the bridge 12 string course instead. I think that's going to sound awesome.